AMMAN, Jordan - Jordanian officials were furious with a bill submitted by Israeli MK (member of Knesset) Arieh Eldad (National Union) calling for two states on either side of the Jordan River.

Eldad's legislation, which proposes "creating two states on the banks of the Jordan River, one for the Israelis and one for the Palestinians," is being debated by the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense committee.

"There are already two states for two peoples," Eldad said during the discussion.

"The Land of Israel has been divided, my national home has been divided and three quarters of it handed to the Arabs by the British Empire," he said.

"Seventy percent of Jordan's population is Palestinian so there is a de-facto Palestinian state," Eldad said.

In response to the bill, Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh asked Israel's ambassador to Amman to demand that the legislation be withdrawn.

"This is a strategic Jordanian interest that comes in line with a two-state solution and the Arab peace initiative," a Foreign Ministry statement issued from Amman read.

"[The Hashemite Kingdom] believes in establishing an independent and viable Palestinian state on Palestinian soil," the statement read.